This is a classic standard scam email targeting artists but I'm posting it to get all the fake names and disposable email addresses that they use out there.
From: Debbie Walker [debbie.w01@blumail.org]
Subject: Monhegan Cliff Pastel, 18" X 24"
--
Hi,
My name is Debbie Walker, from New York. I hope this message finds you well.I was going through some of your works and my eyes caught this particular piece, I'm interested in purchasing it as I'm moving to a new apartment this month.Please let me know if you still have the piece available, if yes let me know and it's final price and more information about it. I will be waiting to read from you.
Regards,
Debbie.
I just got one of the Debbie Walker emails inquiring about my art work. I was excited until I read your art scam blog. I decided it sounded too fakey.
ReplyDeleteHer email was identical as the one you posted.
Thank you!
Mary
Oh boy... I got the above email, and followed up with a response. The below is the response from Debbie... my heart sank a bit when I Googled the name for scams... Sad sad sad... I wish people wouldn't scam artists. How do they find the works?
ReplyDelete"Hello Frank,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I tried calling your phone# but didnt get through. sure i'll make a try later when im free.
Unfortunately, I'm on my way to France on an official trip(I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks.
If you'd like to know, Im relocating to South Africa soon and I'm trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode. Im buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP.
However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff to get set for the pickup of the piece from your place as I MIGHT be delayed depending on how things goes.
PS: In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your contact address so I can get in touch with my Bank to get a check prepared and have it mailed out to you right away."
I just received the same email inquiry. I responded by asking for "her" telephone number. I likely will not hear anything again, as this is how it usually goes. Isn't it interesting how there are always circumstances which make the transaction hurried or strange?
ReplyDeleteYes, they want to rush their victims along quickly so they send the money before they've given much thought to the strange circumstances of the "story". Often people are over-riding their gut instinct that something is not right and if you give someone some time to ponder what they are doing, they'll want to double-check, like you did, and they'll find out its a scam.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, these scams always have strange circumstances to the "story" and always try and rush the victim through the scam.
Yes, I got one too from "Debbie Walker from New York" - word-for-word! Every now and then, I get a similar e-mail.
ReplyDeleteI just received the same word for word email. Thanks for creating this post so people know.
ReplyDeleteJust got an identical one
ReplyDeleteYes, I just received the same message from "Debbie". About 2 years ago, I had a similar scam and it was ongoing for 6 weeks involving 4 paintings. I actually printed all of the correspondence and saved it too. It's all such an incredible waste of time... But this time, not so much!
ReplyDeleteI just heard from "Debbie Walker", too! Busy gal, she is!
ReplyDeleteShe has better English than the last scammer I heard from.
Thanks so much for this blog! Is it okay if I spread the word around about it? I still hear of too many artists getting scammed by these jerks!
My Debbie Walker email:
ReplyDeleteFrom: Debbie Walker [debbie.w01@blumail.org]
Subject: El Chorro (Red Church), oil on panel, 30 x 22.5”, 2011
Hi,
My name is Debbie Walker, from New York. I hope this message finds you well.I was going through some of your works and my eyes caught this particular piece, I'm interested in purchasing it as I'm moving to a new apartment this month.Please let me know if you still have the piece available, if yes let me know and it's final price and more information about it. I will be waiting to read from you.
Regards,
Debbie.
I just received this same email with different name Amy Gratiot from California. I got fooled and answered it.when she replied she is going out of country for 2 weeks for business and moving to South Africa.yadayadayada. Thats when I came to this site. Dan
ReplyDeleteI just received the same email from Amy Gratiot of California. It's obvious from the writing that the writer is not English speaking. Elizabeth
DeleteI also received an email from Amy Gratiot of California. This site is so helpful - almost fell for it.
ReplyDelete"Amy Gratiot" is not getting any points for originality, he/she is still using the identical wording in the email that I just got this morning. I'm in the Toronto area, is this where other people are who receive these "offers"?
ReplyDeleteThanks for this useful website.
Oh no, scammers send out hundreds of thousands, if not millions and millions of emails and will sometimes rip through particular sites online if they can figure out people's email addresses - like art associations or online selling places like Yessy. But people receiving these fake buyer scam emails are from all over.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you didn't fall victim to it.
I received the same email and this person signed off as "Amy Gratiot" from California. The correspondence went as far as her mailing out a bank draft. I was very disturbed by the amount and "Amy's" instructions to forward money via Western Union to a particular address - her "shipper" for the artwork. I visited the bank and they confirmed the cheque was a fraudulent cheque. I emailed this person to go away. This person had the nerve to respond and state that her cheque was sent via UPS yet in the string of emails, she wrote the cheque was sent via regular mail. This was the last straw. I called the Police and now I will be filling a report to the Anti-Fraud Centre set up by the Government of Canada. Their website is www.antifraudcentre.ca and toll free number is 1-888-495-8501.
ReplyDeleteGot an "Amy Gratiot" email. I'm not on Etsy or other sites like that so "she" must have searched for my website. She picked out a specific piece to ask for by name, so it looked more plausible at first. Went ahead and had her send a fake check, so she had to spend a few bucks to send a check UPS at least. Does anyone know if these people are ever prosecuted? Successfully?
ReplyDeleteIn rare cases, I've read about arrested and sentencing... but usually only of those they can sentence. for example, I've read where a U.S. based citizen is arrested and sentenced for receiving forged checks or stolen goods in behalf of a scammer - the scammer is not arrested but the U.s. person is, who in most cases, thought they were doing a "job" for an international company (in some cases, the person actually knew what was happening but it didn't seem to be so in most cases). Scammers typically operate from countries where they are not prosecuted or even arrested.
ReplyDeleteAs people report scams more online via ic3.gov (they take reports only if there is actual financial loss and I think that is too late, so I started this blog to try and alert people before there is any money loss) but they only pursue "trends" and cases where the losses have added up and seem to be coming from a source they can identify (its usually a small group of scammers working together). But even in these cases, I read about arrested and rarely read about successful prosecutions.
This is a growing plague because they know how to operate under the radar of available resources and out of the reach of authorities who have any motivation to pursue it.
So power to the people to use the internet to help each other become aware of these scams and how to avoid them in the first place.
I received two of these emails and had conversations with them both (maybe event the same person) before listening to my gut and realizing something wasn't right. I'll post the emails as follows because I think the names and details of the emails will help others who look this up as I did.
ReplyDelete_____________________
'Erin Heywood'
Hi,
I'm Erin Heywood from California. I hope this message finds you well.I was going through some of your works and my eyes caught this particular piece,I want to purchase it as I am moving to a new apartment this month.Please let me know if you still have the piece available, if yes let me know and it's final price and more information
about it. I will be waiting to read from you.
Regards,
Erin.
(323) 835-1260
_________________
The 'I will be waiting to read from you' was a clue.
I haven't tried the number, but I'm thinking about it... from a payphone.
after I wrote them back with a few options I have available they continue:
Dear Rhea,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I would prefer the the larger one.
Unfortunately, I'm on my way to France on an official trip(I'm a marketing Executive) and wont be back for another two weeks.
If you'd like to know, I'm relocating to South Africa soon and I'm trying to gather some good stuff for my new abode. I'm buying yours amongst others,quickly! before someone else grabs it.So, I'll arrange to send you payment ASAP.
However, I'll have to notify my shipper who's helping me move my stuff to get set for the pick up of the piece from your place as I MIGHT be delayed depending on how things goes.
PS: In the mean time, kindly get back to me with your contact address and also your phone# so I can get in touch with my Bank to get a check prepared and have it mailed out to you right
Also the following from 'Clark McKibbon' (who's name I found online as he was trying to scam another artist):
ReplyDeleteGood Day,
I see this your beautiful work through my searching, do you still have
it available?
The work am talking about is listed on the Subject of my email, i will
be expecting the price if you still have it available.
Clark.
____________
I responded of course with a general question about his price range. (Did he want a small painting for $250 or a large one for $1500). He told me he wanted me to send him details of dimensions and prices. So I did. He was vague... but you want to please someone who wants to buy from you. I told him that the transaction will go through paypal. This is what he responded with, choosing the largest piece with the largest price as Erin did as well:
subject:Transaction Proceed. (70.3cm x 54cm (approx 28" by 21")
Dear Rhea,
Thank you for your reply and the Information about the Painting, The
price is okay by me.
Regarding the Payment I will issue you a Cheque for easy auditing, it
will be a cashier and as well certified, "advised by my Auditor" I
will inform you as soon as the payment is been sent out from my office
here Berkshire United Kingdom.
I will be needing your information to process your payment ASAP. We
may also speak on Skype if you wouldn't mind in other to discuss about
the transaction verbally.
Name on Check;
Address;
Phone Number;
Skype ID;
Also i want you to know that i will appoint a secured shipping company
that will come for the pickup of the Pieces in your destination, and
then deliver it to me here in the UK. The shipping fees will be added
to your payment. I have had bad experience with FedEx and UPS in the
past. So I guess a guaranteed secured shipper will be preferably
considered and appoint for the pickup.
Am on Skype as: clarkmckibben.
Regards,
Clark.
_______________________
hahahaha. Well I guess it was pretty obvious at this point. He used the words 'secured' 'guaranteed' 'certified' and 'auditor' without skipping a beat. A little too much trying to convince me without any indication from me I was doubting him in the first place. And after I said the transaction would go through paypal. Even Erin used the word 'official' in her email. I think it's a psychological thing that they are trying to make themselves sound important and you are less likely to doubt them.
My choice is to not write them back at all because I don't want them to know what clued me in to their little scam and improve it. I'd rather share it with you fine people to help protect yourselves.
All the best.
Rhea
ps. The ip address for both 'Clark' and 'Erin' was the same. 173.201.192.185
ReplyDelete-Rhea
I didn't realise that this was such a big scam, and I foolishly think I just got it :(
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know Tracy Holmberg from California is the newest name being used. I answered the first email and recieved the 2nd (amazing how many marketing executives have to go to conferences in Paris and are moving to South Africa). My spidey senses went on alert and following a suggestion from Artpromotive I googled the original email and found this site. Such a waste of time and energy.
ReplyDeleteYes, a waste of time, but much less a waste of time than getting caught in the scam and losing money. So I'm glad you took the extra time to google it!
ReplyDeleteI got an email from Tracy Holmberg yesterday,which seemed very genuine and she was very specific about the piece she wanted to buy. I did reply with pricing & payment info and she replied word for word as above. Again, alarm bells rang so I googled her name and just found all this.Won't bother replying, glad I googled!
ReplyDeleteSo am I!
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Tracy likes my art too. Very specific..I was suspicious because the quite level on the email showed that it had been forwarded. Stupid Tracy also has bad english and an white bread American Name. Here it is....
ReplyDelete"Hi,
I'm Tracy Holmberg from California. I hope this message finds you well.I was going through some of your works and my eyes caught this particular piece,I want to purchase it as I am moving to a new apartment this month.Please let me know if you still have the piece available, if yes let me know and it's final price and more information
about it. I will be waiting to read from you.
Regards,
Tracy.
(323) 835-1260"
Got Tracy's email also. Googled the phone number and found this site. Receive such scam emails at least once a year.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie, for alerting artists.
Just received one of these from Tracy Holmberg this morning. Thank you so much for setting up this page.
ReplyDeleteJared
I have received the same letter(s) but my"purchaser" is named Tracy and she's a "Marketing Executive" heading to S. Africa and wants to take "good stuff" for her new apartment!
ReplyDeleteHope somebody can find these jerks!
EC
Tracy gets around. I actually played it through and got a check from him/her. of course, I didn't deposit it or follow through. I put my bank on alert so others don't get bit. The police don't want to do anything....because there has not been a loss.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame we have such scum in this world. I hope they all go to hell.
The letter Erin Heywood sent me is identical to some of the ones above. I should have googled her before I replied...but no loss so far (knock wood). The phrase "I'm waiting to read from" you suggests that the sender is not an English speaker
ReplyDeleteSeems like I have one on the hook by the name of Traci Lee. Claims to be a procurement agent based in WA but working in Japan. She's looking forward to reading from me.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Ken.
July 1, 2013
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone,
I just got the below email from "Bill Curry." You can read through the first part, I requested the information in a reply email and the phone number matched up to the scam. I also googled the 2 homes listed, for sale and for purchase - the for sale home in Santa Monica sold for a nice chunk of change, the google address for the place in South Africa, is the real give-away. I did reply to the email and sent information about the artwork, all of my business contact information is already on the internet so I wasn't too worried about getting further involved in the scam. (I was bummed though that my painting wasn't sold.)
FYI
J.P.
"Hi,
I'm Bill Curry from California. I was going through your works and my eyes caught this particular piece, I want to purchase it as I am moving to a new apartment next month. Kindly let me know if you still have the piece available and also let me know it's final price and more information about it. I will be waiting to read from you.
Regards,
Bill
email: emadamirudo@gmail.com
I'll get the check prepared and have it sent out to you asap.Then I'll let you know as soon as I have it sent to you.
Address now is 4759 Bryn Mawr avenue,Santa monica California 90405.
Address later: 1094 Yeo Street, Yeoville, Johannesburg 2198, South Africa.
Reach me on (323) 835-1260 or leave a message and I'll get back to you."
Oh my God! I just got the same e-mail from a Bill Curry in California. HIs first e-mail was word-for-word the Debbie Walker e-mail. I responded, taking him seriously at first, although there was a strange typo error in his e-mail which made me a little suspicious. His second response was again word-for-word the Debbie Walker response. It really sounded too bizarre, so I sent the e-mails to my brother-in-law who directed me to your report. Thank you so much for posting this. I knew in my gut that it was fishy, but artists are so desperate to make a sale that we fall for this crap.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Elaine
ME TOO! So sad Bill Curry is not legit...the odd language tipped me off, but I wasn't sure. I couldn't find a good match for him on LinkedIn either, which seemed especially fishy that a Marketing Executive wouldn't be on that site...which is when I started googling. Thank you VERY much for this post!
ReplyDelete